Traverse rod



Oct. 3, 1967 H. ZNAMIROWSKI TRAVERSE ROD Filed April 16, 1965 United States Patent 3,344,463 TRAVERSE ROD Henry Znamirowski, Ellicott City, Md., assignor to Eastern Products Corporation, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed Apr. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 448,679 3 Claims. (Cl. 16-94) The present invention relates to traverse rods for draperies and the like, and more particularly to an improved traverse rod embodying a concealed center or intermediate supporting means therefor.

Traverse rods for draperies and the like often require center or intermediate supports as well as end supports, particularly when the rod is used with a substantially large window or opening. If such center or intermediate supports are not employed, the weight of the drapery often causes bowing of the rod, producing an unsatisfactory appearance to the drapery.

Center or intermediate supports for such traverse rods are not new, but known supports of this kind usually comprise a bracket including an arm that extends over the top of the traverse rod and includes hook means at the outer end thereof that engages an integral lip on the front face of the traverse rod.

Such conventional constructions, while adequately supporting the traverse rod, are visible from a point in front of the drapery and detract from the overall appearance of the rod and drapery. Additionally, the outer end of the hook means interferes with the movement of the draperies along the rod and often snags the top of the drapery, particularly the valance thereof.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a traverse rod for draperies and the like in which the point of connection between the center or intermediate support and the traverse rod is concealed When viewed from in front of the draperies being supported by the rod.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a traverse rod and concealed center or intermediate support in which the intermediate support can be located at any point along the extent of the traverse rod.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a traverse rod and intermediate supporting means therefor that will not snag or otherwise interfere with the free movement of the draperies along the rod.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a traverse rod and concealed intermediate supporting means in which the length of the supporting means is adjustable to effect location of the rod at a selected distance from the wall to which it is to be attached.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a traverse rod and intermediate supporting means therefor in which the rod may be of a unitary construction, or of a telescoping or other type construction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a traverse rod and concealed intermediate supporting means therefor, in which a dual-track telescoping construction may be employed.

In one aspect of the invention, a traverse rod may include a rolled, or otherwise formed, sheet metal hollow, rod-like member having front and back walls or faces as well as top and bottom walls or faces. The front wall may 3,344,463 Patented Oct. 3, 1967 include a desired design, and the back wall is provided with a longitudinal slot extending throughout the length of the rod.

In another aspect of the invention, the top wall of the hollow rod may include a rolled or otherwise formed groove extending throughout the length of the rod.

In still another aspect of the invention, a bracket may be provided for attachment to the wall that is to support the traverse rod. This bracket may support an arm that is adjustable to change the distance the rod is to be supported from the wall. The outer free end of the arm is adapted to lie over and to fit within the longitudinally extending groove in the top wall of the rod.

In a further aspect of the invention, the cross section of the longitudinally extending groove may include a reentrant angle, such as a semidovetail construction, within which the forward end of the arm interlocks. This construction enables the arm to be located at any point along the length of the rod in a manner not to interfere with the top of the drapery nor to be visible from in front of the draped area.

In a still further aspect of the invention, an inner telescoping member may include a cross sectional construction that is received by an outer telescoping member, and each may have rolled-in longitudinal grooves that are coextensive. Furthermore, the track means of each of the inner and outer telescoping members may be spaced laterally to provide a dual track arrangement.

The above, other objects and novel features of the improved traverse rod and intermediate support therefor will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a traverse rod to which the principles of the invention have been applied;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a traverse rod embodying a modification of the rod shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

Referring to the drawing, the principles of the invention are shown as applied to a drapery traverse rod of telescoping construction including an outer rod member 10 and an inner rod member 11. Referring to FIG. 2, the outer member 10 may include a front wall 12 having some desired type of design 13 thereon. Member 10 also may include a bottom wall 14 and a back wall 15. The back wall may be provided with a slot 16 extending longitudinally throughout its length. The edges 17 and 18 of the slot 16 may be rolled over on themselves for a purpose to be described.

Member 10 may also include a top wall 19 that is provided with a rolled, or otherwise formed, longitudinally extending groove 20 shown in the embodiment disclosed as being of a semidovetail construction including a reincludes a slot 27 that receives a bolt 28 for adjusting the position of arm 26 relative to bracket 23. The forward, free end 29 of arm 26 is formed to fit transversely within the longitudinal groove 20 in the top wall 19 of outer member 10. A clip 30 is pivoted to the arm 26 by a hollow fastener or eyelet 31. Clip 30 includes a finger piece 32 and a clamping portion 33 adapted to cooperate with the lip 22 of member 10.

The rolled edges 17 and 18 forming the slot 16 are so constructed that surfaces 34 and 35 thereof are parallel to each other and vertical when the rod is mounted. A drapery carrier 36 may include a spool-like portion 37 at one of its ends and means 38 at its other end, adapted to support a pinned hook 39 to which the drapery may be fastened. The construction is such that with the draperies attached to the rod, opposed surfaces 40 and 41 of spool portion 37 contact the parallel space surfaces 34 and 35 of the rolled edges 17 and 18. This arrangement ensures that the drapery valance will hang vertically and will not cant outwardly as often occurs with conventional drapery supports of this sort.

Referring to FIG. 3, the inner telescoping member 11 includes a hollow, tubular member of substantially the configuration of the member 10, but slightly smaller in cross-section so that it will telescopingly fit within the member and use the inner surfaces of the outer member as guide ways. The member 11 also includes a longi tudinally extending groove 42 which is larger than groove so as to receive the portion of member 10 that forms groove 20. A lip or flange 43 of member 11 is adapted to be received between the spaced parallel walls of lip 22 of member 10.

The forward end 44 of the arm 26 (FIG. 3) is somewhat different from end 29, since it is required to fit the larger longitudinal groove 42. When member 11 is assembled in member 10, the rear wall 45 of member 11 is spaced from rear wall 15 of member 10, providing a dual track arrangement. The drapery support 46 (FIG. 3) includes a spool-like portion 47 spaced from the shank 48 thereof so that it will cooperate with the spaced tracks 45 of member 11.

Referring to FIG. 4, the principles of the invention are shown equally applicable to a telescoping rod in which the edges of the longitudinal slots in the rear walls are not rolled, but in which the back walls of members 10 and 11 are in sliding engagement with each other throughout their extents. It is of course to be understood that the principles of the invention are equally applicable to nontelescoping rods.

Referring again to FIG. 1, end brackets 49 and 50 are provided for receiving the ends of rods 10 and 11 in the usual fashion.

While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof and in specific uses, various modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

The ornamental design of the traverse rod shown herein does not form a part of this invention but is a separate invention disclosed and claimed in the design patent application of Harry S. Rosenbaum filed concurrently herewith. The track construction shown in this application is more fully described and is claimed in my patent application filed concurrently herewith. The drapery carrier shown in this application does not form a part of this invention but is a separate invention disclosed and claimed in the patent application of Martin L. Lydard filed concurrently herewith.

What is claimed is:

1. A drapery traverse rod and support therefor comprising, a hollow rod having front, bottom, rear and top walls, said rear wall having a slot forming a track for drapery supporting sliders and a flange portion above the slot extending rearwardly beyond the slotted wall portion, said flange portion having its upper surface integral with the top wall of said rod, both said slot and said flange portion extending substantially the full length of said rod, said top wall having a longitudinal groove extending substantially the entire length of said rod, said groove being open at the top of said rod with the bottom wall of the groove disposed below the top wall of the rod and with the front wall of said groove being formed with a re-entrant angle to give a dovetail-like form, and a bracket adapted to be attached to a supporting wall and including a supportingarm for said rod adapted to lie on the rear portion of said top wall and having a forward end portion adapted to fit down into said groove in the top wall in engagement with the front, rear, and bottom walls of said groove with the leading edge of said forward end portion meshing with said dovetail-like form on the front wall of said groove, and a clamping member carried by said supporting arm and adapted to engage the lower surface of said flange portion to clamp said flange portion between the portion of said arm lying on said top wall and said clamping member.

2. A drapery traverse rod and support therefor comprising, an outer hollow rod having front, bottom, rear and top walls, said top Wall having near its front edge a supporting groove extending longitudinally substantially the entire length of said rod, said groove being open at the top of said rod with the bottom wall of the groove disposed below the top wall of the rod and having a front edge formed by a re-entrant angle to give a dovetaillike form, said top wall and a portion of said rear wall being formed to produce a flange extending beyond the main portion of the rear wall, an inner rod adapted to telescope within said outer rod and having front, bottom, rear and top walls, said top wall having a supporting groove extending longitudinally substantially the full length of said rod, and of such dimensions as to receive the inwardly extending portion of the groove of said outer rod when the two rods are telescoped together, said top Wall and a portion of the rear wall being adapted to produce a flange extending beyond the main portion of said rear wall and so dimensioned as to fit within the flange of said outer rod when said rods are telescoped, and separate supporting brackets for each of said rods which are adapted to be attached to a supporting wall and each including a supporting arm adapted to lie on the rear portion of said top wall and having a forward end portion adapted to fit down into said groove in the top wall in engagement with the front, rear, and bottom walls of said groove with the leading edge of said forward end portion meshing with said dovetail-like form on the front wall of said groove, and clamping means attached to said supporting arm adapted to secure said arm to the respective rod.

3. A drapery traverse rod and support therefor comprising, an outer hollow rod having front, bottom, rear and top. walls, said top wall having near its front edge a supporting groove extending longitudinally substantially the entire length of said rod, said groove being open at the top of said rod with the bottom wall of the groove disposed below the top Wall of the rod and having a front edge formed by a re-entrant angle to give a dovetail-like form, said top wall and a portion of said rear wall being formed to produce a flange extending beyond the main portion of the rear wall, an inner rod adapted to telescope Within said outer rod and having front, bottom, rear and top walls, said top wall having a supporting groove extending longitudinally substantially the full length of said rod, and of such dimensions as to receive the inwardly extending portion of the groove of said outer rod when the two rods are telescoped, said top wall and a portion of the rear wall being adapted 6 including a supporting arm adapted to lie on the upper References Cited surface of the flange of the respective rod and having UNITED STATES PATENTS a forward end portion adapted to fit down 1nto said groove in the top wall in engagement with the front, rear, 2'683890 7/1954 Rosenbaum 16 87-4 and bottom walls of said groove with the leading edge of 5 3134132 5/1964 Graber 16 '94 said forward end portion meshing with said dovetail-like 3273197 9/1966 Ford 16-94 form on the front wall of said groove, and a clamping p p member attached to said supporting arm and adapted MARVIN CHAMPION Puma), Exammer' to engage the lower surface of the respective flange. J. H. McGLYNN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DRAPERY TRAVERSE ROD AND SUPPORT THEREFOR COMPRISING, A HOLLOW ROD HAVING FRONT, BOTTOM, REAR AND TOP WALLS, SAID REAR WALL HAVING A SLOT FORMING A TRACK FOR DRAPERY SUPPORTING SLIDERS AND A FLANGE PORTION ABOVE THE SLOT EXTENDING REARWARDLY BEYOND THE SLOTTED WALL PORTION, SAID FLANGE PORTION HAVING ITS UPPER SURFACE INTEGRAL WITH THE TOP WALL OF SAID ROD, BOTH SAID SLOT AND SAID FLANGE PORTION EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL LENGTH OF SAID ROD, SAID TOP WALL HAVING A LONGITUDINAL GROOVE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF SAID ROD, SAID GROOVE BEING OPEN AT THE TOP OF SAID ROD WITH THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE GROOVE DISPOSED BELOW THE TOP WALL OF THE ROD AND WITH THE FRONT WALL OF SAID GROOVE BEING FORMED WITH A RE-ENTRANT ANGLE TO GIVE A DOVEDTAIL-LIKE FORM, AND A BRACKET ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO A SUPPORTING WALL AND INCLUDING A SUPPORTING ARM FOR SAID ROD ADAPTED TO LIE ON THE REAR PORTION OF SAID TOP WALL AND HAVING A FORWARD END PORTION ADAPTED TO FIT DOWN INTO SAID GROOVE IN THE TOP WALL IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FRONT, REAR, AND BOTTOM WALLS OF SAID GROOVE WITH THE LEADING EDGE OF SAID FORWARD END PORTION MESHING WITH SAID DOVETAIL-LIKE FORM ON THE FRONT WALL OF SAID GROOVE, AND A CLAMPING MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORTING ARM AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID FLANGE PORTION TO CLAMP SAID FLANGE PORTION BETWEEN THE PORTION OF SAID ARM LYING ON SAID TOP WALL AND SAID CLAMPING MEMBER. 